Web severing and roll initiating mechanism



July 9, 1963 R J'. JACOBS ETAL 3,096,947

WEB SEVERING AND ROLL INITIATING MECHANISM Filed March 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS B00557 u. an c065 tape/.55- J. wascm'az ar /4on Arron/way y 1963 R. J. JACOBS ETAL 3,096,947

WEB SEVERING AND ROLL INITIATING MECHANISM Filed March 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 CYLINDER TO REYOKE INITIAL SLACK WHEN LOADING CONSTANT TENSION PLAYOUT ACTIVATING CYLINDER WIRE HELD AFTER ONE REVOLUTION JUST AFTER RELEASE FROM HOLDER WIRE POS!TIONKNOT CAUGHT IN NOTCH- [76 c? START OF WINDUP ROLL CORE 9 z ja- 7704/: A NOTCH AND PICK-UP GUIDE INVENTORS 2055127 J, JH 6083 00224.65 a, u/AECHTER meuey July 9, 1963 R. J. JACOBS ETAL 3,096,947

WEB SEVERING AND ROLL INITIATING MECHANISM Filed March 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 CORE 7 7/ 2/4 HOOK 0N cons CHUCK 65 LOOP HOLDER INVENTORS ROBERT J, JACOBS CHARLES J- MHECHTEZ WWW- A TTOBAIE Y United Stats Patent 3,096,947 WEB SEVERING AND RULL INITIATING MECHANISM Robert J. Jacobs and Charles J Waechter, Plainfield, N.J., assignors to Midland-Ross Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 95,563 13 Claims. (Cl. 24256) This invention relates to the cutting into lengths of web material such as paper. Cellophane and other materials; and while it will be described for clarity of illustration, in connection with the winding and reeling of paper, it will be understood that it is not so limited, but, to the contrary, useful and usable in the severing of webs of other materials.

It is the principal object of the invent-ion to provide a method of, and apparatus for the severing of webs of material, such as those sold and used in the form of rolls.

More particularly, it is an object to effect such severing by a method and apparatus which does not require stopping of the winding or reeling mechanism, which is capable of operation at high linear speeds of web transfer.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus as aforesaid which is positive and reliable in operation and which practically eliminates waste of stock in the severing procedure.

Yet another object is to provide a method of and apparatus for severing of web stock which, being under precise and instantaneous control, efiects severing at correct predetermined lengths to thereby eliminate losses due to overmeasurement of lengths.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus for severing web material which is capable of embodiment in tully automatic form.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which, while embodying all the features and advantages enumerated in the preceding paragraphs, is, nevertheless, relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and apply while being reliable in the accurate severing of web materials even at high speeds.

A still further object is to provide a relatively simple severing apparatus which may be incorporated as an integral part of new winding machines or applied as an attachment to existing winders.

Another object is to provide a severing apparatus of the type described which is applicable to a wide variety of types of winding and other machines for processing and production of web materials.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, after a study of the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective detail view of the invention applied to a particular type of winding machine and showing the position of the parts just after one end of the severing wire has been picked up at one end of an empty roll or core, but before cutting has started;

FIGURE 2 is a detail view to an enlarged scale showing in perspective, but from a different point of view, the roll, cutting wire, and control mechanism, all in positions corresponding to those shown upon FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detail view to a still further enlarged scale, of the hook or pick-up means fixed with one end of the roll, that is, the right end in the showing of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view to about the same scale as FIGURE 3, showing portions of the roll, hook rneans, and pick-up cylinder and piston assembly at the instant the severing wire is being picked up.

Patented July 9, 1953 FIGURE 5 is a detail view to a scale enlarged over that of FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, and showing the wire clamp attached to and operated by the wire tautening portion of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view to a scale somewhat enlarged over that of FIGURE 3, showing the severing mechanism in position with respect to a roll when the web passes over and downwardly about it, together with a modified form of wire pick-up;

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional view in a plane identified by line 7--7, FIG. 8, showing a portion of the roll, end chuck and pick-up finger;

FIGURE 8 is a detail view to about the same scale as FIGURE 7, showing the pick-up finger in end elevation and its manner of attachment to the chuck;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a detail view, partly in section, of the wire or cord spool of FIGURE 9, and its mounting.

The following list describes the main parts shown in the drawings:

1winder in general 2-end member of 1 3--end member of 1 4base of 1 5reel or core frame 6end beam of 5 7--end beam of 5 8shaft of 6 9sprocket or gear fixed l0-sprocket or gear for beam 7 11motor driven speed reducer 12-drive chain for 10 13-output drive shaft of 14empty roll or core 15shaft of 7 16-sprocket on outer end 17double chains 18sprocket of drive motor-19 19-drive motor 2il-chain 21-hook on 14 22pressure fluid cylinder 23--pist0n and rod assembly of 22 24 pin on 23 25pin on '23 26looped end of 27 27-wire 28--second pressure fluid cylinder 29-rod assembly of 28 3ilwire clamp 3llower jaw of 30 32-upper jaw of 30 33-hinge pin 32 to 31 34threaded rod 36-coil spring 37-gripping point, FIG.

38 roll in general, FIGS.

6, 7 and 8 39hollow cylinder of 38 40chuck il-chuck 42-stub shaft of 40 -43-n0tch and pick-up guide 44fiat on periphery of 45point on lower surface 46--line in 43, FIG. 7

only

4-7line (dashed) FIG. 8

only

48-pick-up cylinder 49rod assembly of 48 5tlwire or cord holder 5lwire or cord 52-hose connection of 48 53knot in wire 54tensioning cylinder 5piston and rod assembly S6bracket 57-wire holder 58-air hose 59-dashed line of wire helix 6ilpedestal 61pedestal 62-bearing of 60 63-shaft 64operating lever 65arm on 63 66arm on 63 67-guide bar 68first slideon 67 69set screw 7 0arm integral with 68 71-pin on '70 72pin on '70 7 3second slide on 67 74set screw 75-stub shaft 76-washer' 77--friction disc 78-reel 79washer Silt-knurled knob 82-notch in flange of 78 83-stop on 66 Referring in detail to the disclosure, and particularly to FIGURE 1, 1 identifies generally a winding machine comprising a pair of end members 2 and 3 fixed to a base 4, in laterally spaced relation. These members journal between them an open-center frame 5 comprising parallel end beams 6 and 7 connected in parallel relation and journaled at their centers in members 2 and 3, respectively. In the particular winder shown, beam 6 is fixed with a short hollow shaft, not shown, journaled in the top or apex of end member 2, and having a sprocket or gear 9 fixed to its outer end. Likewise, beam 7 is fixed to a hollow shaft, not shown, and having a sprocket or gear 10 fixed to its outer end.

The sprockets 9 and 10 are connected to be driven in synchronism by a motor-driven speed reducer indicated generally at 1 1 and having an output drive pinion, not shown, connected to drive sprocket 10 by means of a chain 12. Sprocket 9' at the other side of the machine and fixed with beam 6, is driven in a similar manner by means of a horizontal, transverse shaft 13 which is connected at one end with the output drive pinion of speed reducer 11. At its other end shaft 13 is journ-aled in a bearing carried by member 2, and has a pinion fixed to its outer end which pinion is connected by a chain similar in all respects to chain 12, to drive sprocket 9. The arrangement is such that beams 6 and 7 are parallel and, on energization of the motor of speed reducer 11, are rotated synchronously at a relatively low speed about the axis of shaft 8.

The beams 6 and '7 have bearings at both ends. The bearings at the forward and lower ends of these beams, as the parts are viewed upon FIGURE 1, form a first pair, and journal between them an empty roll or core 14 which, as shown, has been rotated by actuation of speed reducer ll, forwardly and downwardly into contact with a web W, such as paper, being wound into a'roll R upon a core journaled at the other ends of beams 6 and 7 in bearings: which form a second pair. These pairs of bearings are of a well-known open or quick-detachable type so that a full roll such as R may be released and lifted out by lift mechanism not shown, and replaced by an empty roll or core 14. Further, these bearings and the cores are so constructed and arranged as to enable the core to be power driven at one or both ends, by means of gear trains mounted in each of the hollow beams 6 and 7. Since such driving means are known to the art, it is sufiicient to explain that shaft 15 which extends within and along the hollow shaft fixed with sprocket It has a double sprocket i6 keyed to its outer end and connected by a pair of chains 17 with the sprocket 18 of motor 19. The inner end of shaft 15 terminates within hollow beam 7 and there has secured to it a drive gear or pinion forming the initial one of a chain of intermeshing gears extending from the center of beam 7 to one end thereof such, for example, as the end mounting core 14. The final gear of this drive is connected with the stub shaft extending axially from one end of the core so that when the core is properly mounted in the position shown, it may be driven or rotated at high speed by motor 19.

A like construction is incorporated in the other hollow beam 6 and includes shaft 8 driven by a double chain drive 249 from a second motor, not shown, but similar in all respects to motor 19. Chain drive 20 operates a sprocket identical with the sprocket 16 shown at the left of FIG- URE 1. Shaft 8 has fixed thereto the initial one of a second gear chain extending in and along the beam 6 to roll R. The final one of the second gear chain is connected with the stub shaft of the core on which roll R is wound. Thus, rotation of the motor driving belts 2%, effects high speed rotation of the core on which roll R is wound.

By the foregoing construction both cores may be simultaneously rotated, or either core rotated while the other is at rest, and, of course, with beams 6 and '7 in any position of angular adjustment about the axis of shaft 8. Also by energization of the motor driving variable speed de- 4 vice 11 the beams may be rotated with the cores rotating or at rest.

For greatest efficiency and uninterrupted operation of the machines producing the web of material, it is essential that winding thereof on cores be continuous, since it is usually not practical to stop production of web while the web is cut, and the full roll removed and replaced by an empty corev Our invention makes. it possible to accurately measure the footage of web accumulated in a roll, to sever the web almost instantaneously when the predetermined footage has been accumulated, and to start the severed end winding on an empty core, all Without slowing or stopping the web-producing machine and at speeds as high as 2000 f.p.m.

In carrying out the invention as applied to a center shaft winder of the type described in connection with FIGURE 1, a hook, notch or pick-up finger is affixed to one end of the core, for rotation as a unit therewith. Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 showing core 14, a hook 21 is attached to one end of the core with a notch therein substantially flush with the cylindrical surface of the core and facing in the direction of rotation. At this end of the core a pressure-fluid control cylinder '22 is fixed with base 4 in upstanding relation therefrom and has a piston and rod assembly 23, FIGURE .2, so that when pressure fluid such as air is admitted through tube 24w, the rod is elevated from a lower position to the upper position substantially as shown upon FIGURE 2. In this position a pair of sembly is in lowered position, however, the looped end of the wire is free and clear of book 21. The construction is such that rod 23 cannot rotate relatively to its cylinder, so that the pins 24 and 25 are fixed rotationally in the position shown. It may also be explained at this point that hooks 21 are not necessarily permanently secured to the core ends but are preferably detachably fixed therewith as by cap screws 21a or by known quick-detachable clamp means.

At the other side of the web and forwardly of cylinder 22 in the model shown, there is fixed a second elongated pressure-fluid cylinder 23. This cylinder is fixed in horizontal position a little below the lowermost level of the web, with its axis directed toward and intersecting the axis of vertical cylinder 22. As shown, the angle which the axis of cylinder 28' makes with the direction of travel of web W, is about 45. However, this angle is not critical and \may vary over a wide range in accordance with numerous factors such as the linear speed of web travel, the angle of cut desired or found most practical, the web material itself, and numerous other factors.

In general, when using the form of the invention shown upon FIGURE 1, cylinder 28 will be positioned to effect a single helical turn of the cord, wire, or other elongated severing element, about the core.

The cylinder 28 has a piston rod assembly 29, having a clamp 30 for wire 27 fixed to its free end. As indicated upon FIGURE 2, cylinder 28 is so positioned that when wire 27 is drawn taut thereby, the wire lies in a horizontal plane a little below a corresponding plane tangent to the lowermost element of core 14-. The clamp 30 may be of any suitable construction such as that shown upon FIGURE 5, where rod 29 is shown fixed with the lower jaw 31 of the clamp. The upper jaw 32 is hinged to the lower one by a pin 33. A threaded rod 34 has one end secured in lower jaw 31, and passes loosely through an aperture in upper jaw 32. The compressive force holding the jaws together, hence the force with which they grip wire 27, can be varied by a knurled Illllt 35 threaded on screw 34, and a coil spring 36 extending about the screw between the nut and upper jaw. The construction is such that the wire is gripped between jaws 31 and 32 with sufficient force to maintain it taut as its other end is picked up by the rotating roll 14 and drawn in the form of a helix about the roll, then released at the instant a single turn has been completed. During this procedure, of course, rod assembly 29 is being drawn out against the yielding force exerted by the pressure fluid in cylinder 28. Since the length of wire, cord or other elongated flexible tension element is substantially constant for any given installation or job, a supply of these may be precut and kept on hand for use by the operator. Such length will be determined by the particular installation, width of web being accumulated into rolls, and the diameter of the rolls, and is readily predetermined to effect full severance of the web and complete winding of the trailing edge of the cut web upon the empty core.

The admission of pressure fluid to cylinders 22 and 28 may be controlled automatically, as subsequently explained, through solenoid-controlled valve mechanism, preferably, or by a quick-acting, manually-operated valve. Alternatively, fluid may be first introduced into cylinder 28 followed by admission of fluid to cylinder 22 at the instant the traveling web is to be severed, both admissions being eflected by manual control. Cylinder 28 may be mounted by means not shown, for pivoting about a vertical axis through its own axis, so that it remain aligned with the direction of wire 27 as the latter wraps about the core in severing the web.

In operation, it is assumed that roll R has been substantially fully wound and has been revolved by energization of drive 11 from its normal winding position, presently occupied by core 14, FIGURE 1, clockwise as the parts are viewed from the left of this figure, to the position shown. During the winding of roll R, empty core 14 was inserted into the bearings of beams 6 and 7, after removal of the previously-wound roll. Simultaneously with revolution of full roll R to the position shown, rotation of core 14 is begun by energization of the motor 19. The timing will be such that roll R is fully completed at about the time beams 6 and 7 revolve core 14 into contact with the traveling web and, of course, the peripheral speed of the core is synchronized with the linear speed of travel of the web, still winding on roll R.

As the roll R is completed, the valve mechanism controlling introduction of pressure fluid to cylinder 22 is operated. Introduction of fluid into cylinder 22 elevates rod 23 and positions loop 26 so that it is picked up by book 21 on the next rotation of core 14 and stripped from pins 24 and 25. The wire thus begins to wrap about core 14 and the web, in the form of a helix, and since the web is thereby clamped to the core, it is severed along a diagonal line just forwardly of the wire as the web begins to separate from the roll. The wire thus acts not only to sever the web but also to hold the tnailing end of the web thus formed, in contact with the empty core. As severance of the web is substantially completed, and the oncoming web begins to wrap about the core, the wire runs out since it has been precut, as previously explained. Thus the winding of a roll on core 14 is initiated. The motor driving chain 26 is now de-energized to thereby stop rotation of roll R. The roll is removed by suitable lift mechanism, and conveyed to storage or to shipment. As the wire is drawn free of clamp 30, by the rotating core 14, the pressure fluid in cylinder 28 immediately withdraws or retracts clamp 38 to initial position. The valve controlling the introduction of air or other fluid to cylinder 22 is then closed, so that rod assembly 23 drops. A new length of wire is prepared, with a loop 26 about pins 24 :and 25, ready for severance of the roll accumulating about core 14.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 show a modification wherein the roll generally identified at 38, FIGURE 6, corresponds to roll 14 of FIGURE 1 but comprises a hollow cylinder 39 mounted by means of a pair of chucks 40, 41, fitting and secured in its respective ends. It will be understood that these chucks have stub shafts such as 42, extending outwardly from their centers, for removably journaling and spinning the roll or cylinder in the winder, as previously explained. Also, these chucks are equipped with means well known and hence not shown, for releasably securing each to and within its end of the cylinder 39. This construction enables removal and reuse of the chucks in another cylinder, after a roll of material has been Wound, so that only the cylinder, which may be of disposable material such as heavy paper, and the web wound thereon, are shipped to the consumer.

The chucks are alike except that 40 is formed with a notch and pick-up guide 43. See FIG. 8. This guide may be formed as 1811 integral part of the chuck, but is shown as a separate element secured to the chuck by welding, machine screws, or in other suitable ways. Chuck 40 has a flat 44 machined from its periphery and, as clearly illustrated at FIGURE 7, the portion of this flat projecting from roll core or cylinder 39 has one end of the guide or finger 43 rigidly and integrally attached thereto by means not shown. From FIGURE 8 it is noted that the finger is essentially straight and projects generally tangentially from the chuck. This figure also shows that the finger is so formed that its lower surface, from point 45 outwardly, makes an acute angle with the surface of flat 44 to form therewith a notch.

FIGURE 7 shows that the lower inside corner of the finger 43 is beveled or cut away to form a surface lying in a plane determined by the lower inside corner of the finger, and the line 46. The intersection of this plane with the inside vertical face of the finger, is indicated by the dashed line 47, FIGURE 8. The construction is such that the finger has a substantially sharp edge at point 45 where it meets flat 44; and since the line 46 is, in the plane of FIGURE 7, a little radially outwardly of the outer periphery of cylinder 39, there is formed a construction which will pick up a wire at high speed, between the finger and flat 44, catch a knot or obstruction therein at point 45 and cam the wire into the gap between the finger and peripheral surface of the cylinder, as clearly depicted upon FIGURES 6 and 7.

The pick-up cylinder corresponding to cylinder 22 in the species of FIGURE 1, etc., is identified at 48 and is fixed in position to a suitable bracket, not shown, carried by the winder frame. In this position, as shown, the axis of the cylinder is substantially vertical, in the ver tical plane through the axis of rotation of the cylinder and offset a little outwardly of the plane of rotation of the finger 43. The cylinder has a rod assembly 49 depending from its lower end, to which is fixed a cord or wire clamp or 'holder 50 which may be similar to that shown at FIGURE 5 but which will release the wire in response to :a relatively light pull or tension in the wire or cord. Alternatively the lower end of the rod may simply have fixed therein, a pair of axially-spaced pins such as those shown at 24, 25, FIG. 4. It will be understood of course that conventional means are provided to prevent rod assembly 49 from rotating relatively to cylinder 48. Such means, for example, may take the form of a square rod 49 slidably fitting and passing through a correspondingly shaped aperture in the lower cap of the cylinder.

The parts are shown upon FIGURE 6 with assembly 49 in lowermost position after pressure fluid has been introduced into cylinder 48 through hose connection 52. The cylinder may be equipped with a spring, not shown, urging the piston and rod assembly 49 into uppermost position. For example, a coil spring may be positioned within cylinder 48 between the lower end thereof and the piston. Alternatively, of course, the cylinder may be double acting so that the piston and mod assembly will be held in uppermost position by fluid pressure under control of a suitable four-way valve, not shown.

When the assembly 49 is in upper position, the wire releasably held in holder 50 is thereby held clear of the path of finger 43, but when positively moved to downward position, by air admitted under pressure tocylinder 48 through hose 52, holder 50 moves the wire into the path of the finger, where the wire passes between the finger and flat =44 and slides rearwardly. This acts to pull the wire from holder 50* and a knot 53 therein is securely held at point 45 against tension exerted therein.

Of course, where pins such as 24 and are used, the finger simply enters the loop at the contiguous end of the wire and draws it off the pins, as previously described.

-At the other'end of the roll 39 a tensioning device, shown as a cylinder 54 and a piston-and-rod assembly 55 is mounted upon a bracket 56 fixed with the frame of the winding machine. The cylinder is mounted so that its axis is substantially horizontal in a vertical plane through the axis of cylinder 39 and a little above the uppermost peripheral element of the cylinder, about in line with holder 50 when in uppermost position.

The free end of rod 55 has a holder 57 attached, which may be similar to holder shown at FIGURE 5 and functions similarly to grip wire 51 during its winding about the empty roll but releases it in response to tension therein as clamp means 57 reaches its final or limiting outward position. Cylinder 54 may be connected by hose 58 with a source of air under pressure so that when thecontrol valve thereof, not shown, is operated, the wire is tautened and held under substantially constant tension as it is picked up by finger 43 and carried in a helical path about the cylinder externally of web W passing thereabout. The dashed line 59 indicates the position of the wire after one turn about the cylinder 39'. As in the case of cylinder 28, cylinder 54 may be pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis, so that the axis thereof will be parallel to a tangent of the helix at the instantaneous or leading point of contact of the wire with the web.

The operation of this form of the invention is essentially like that of the species of FIG. 1. Pressure fluid is admitted to cylinder 54 by the operation of a valve, to thereby place wire 51 under initial tension. The peripheral speed of the empty roll or cylinder 39 is adjusted to be the same, or slightly greater than the linear speed of the "web. This may be efiiected, for example, by varying the speed of the corresponding driving motor. At the instant the web is to be severed as it passes in contact with the cylinder 39, the valve, not shown, controlling the admission of air to cylinder 48 is opened, automatically or manually. The end of wire 51, releasably gripped by holder 50, or simply looped about pins, as the case may be, is picked up by finger 4'3, and carried about the roll in a helical path. FIGURE 6 shows the position of the parts at this instant. The wire is carried about the cylinder over web W and assumes a helical path thereabout. As the winding of the wire progresses, holder 57 and rod assembly 55 are pulled toward the contiguous end of the cylinder.

As the web begins to separate from the cylinder, it is severed by the wire along its helical path, the trailing edge of the out being held to the cylinder by the wire. The construction and arrangment are such that the wire, precut to proper length, is drawn from holder 57 a little after the web begins to wind over the cut edge. The ethective winding of a length of web upon the empty cylinder is thus initiated. In this species the web travel is over and downwardly about the core whereas in the species of FIGURE 1 it is beneath and upwardly about the core.

Referring to FIGURE 9, numerals 60* and 61 identify respective pedestals which are adapted to be fixed in laterally spaced relation to the base of a winder or to the fioor thereadjacent. Each pedestal has a hearing such as 62 fixed to its top end and which journal a shaft 63 between them. The shaft has an operating lever 64 fixed to its left end, as the parts are viewed upon the figure.

An arm :65 is fixed to shaft 63 just inside bearing 62. A second arm 66 is similarly fixed to shaft 63 just inside *8 the bearing mounted atop pedestal 61. The two arms are parallel and are rigidly connected at their radially outward ends by a guide bar 67.

A first slide 68 is mounted on bar 67 for guided translation therealong. Any suitable means such as set screw 69 is provided to fix the slide in adjusted position longitudinally along bar 67. Slide 68 has an integral arm 70 projecting outwardly therefrom. The distal end of this arm has a pair of spaced pins 71 and 72 fixed therein. These pins correspond in purpose and function to pins 24 and 25, FIGURE 4, namely, to hold the looped end of the severing wire.

A second slide '73 is mounted for guided translation on and along bar 67, and is fixed in adjusted position by a set screw 74. Slide 73 has a stub shaft 75 fixed thereto and extending outwardly and upwardly. A flange or washer 76, shown in cross section upon FIG. 10, is mounted on shaft 75, followed by a disc 77 of friction material such as rubber.

Reel 78 is a cup-shaped, flanged item having a central aperture in its base to be thereby journaled on shaft 75. A washer 79 is next mounted upon the shaft, followed by a knurled knob 80* fitting the threaded outer end of the shaft. Thus, when the knob is turned down, the plane base of reel 78 is pressed against the triction disc 77 and restrained against rotation to a degree depending upon the adjustment of the knob. Preferably the end of shaft 75 has a keyway 81 therein, and washer 79 is prevented from rotation by a key fitting the way, so that rotation of reel 7 8 has no tendency to rotate knob 80.

The pre-cut cord or wire 27a may be identical with that shown upon FIGURES 2 and 4. The looped end extends over pins 71, 72 while the other end is secured to one flange of reel 78 by a friction fit in a notch 82 therein. Alternatively, a spring clip, not shown, may be used for this purpose. FIGURE 9 shows at 14a in dash-dot lines, the approximate position of the invention with respect to an empty core, corresponding in position and mounting with core 14, FIG. 1.

Prior to severing of the traveling web and initiation of a new roll, slide 68 will have been adjusted along bar 67 so that when the unitary assembly comprising shaft 63, lever 64, arms 65, 66, bar 67 and the parts fixed thereon, are rotated clockwise as viewed upon FIGURE 9, to the position shown, the looped end of wire 27a, about pins 70, 71, will he picked up by hook 21a fixed with rotating core 14a.

When arms 65 and 66 are substantially vertical, pins '71, 72 are relatively remote trom the core; and with the parts inthis position, the looped end of a pre-cut length of wire is placed about pins 71, 72. Slide 73 is moved along bar 67 to a position adjacent slide 68 and the wire is wound about reel 78 and its end fixed in notch 82. Knob 80 is then turned down to frictionally restrain the reel against free rotation. Then slide 73 is moved along bar 67, away from slide 68, to a position adjacent the other end of the core, thus placing the cord or wire under tension.

At the instant the web is to be severed and a new roll started on core 14a, which has been brought up to a peripheral speed equal to, or a little greater than the linear speed of the web, the operator grasps lever 64, rotates it, together with the parts fixed therewith, in a clockwise direction as seen upon FIGURE 9. The proper limiting position of this rotation may be determined by a stop 83 on lever 66 engaging a fixed stop on pedestal or frame 61. At this position hook 21a enters the loop of wire 27a about pins 71, 72, draws it off the pins and wraps it about the core in a helical path to sever the web and initiate a new roll without slow-down of the web, as previously described. During this operation, of course, reel 78 rotates to pay out wire wound thereon. The wire or cord is pre-cut to a length such that it is pulled free of the reel as severing is completed and the trailing edge of the cut web begins to wind on core 14a. The lever '64 and parts fixed therewith are then restored to the vertical and a new wire is attached in preparation for the next operation.

The parts are preferably so constructed and arranged, that when slide 73 is adjusted to final position, as aforesaid, the axis of reel 78 is substantially in the plane of the contiguous end of core 14a and normal to the axis of rotation thereof.

By the construction thus provided, the invention has great versatility in that it may be readily and quickly adapted for use with cores of different lengths and sizes or diameters. Likewise wires or cords for cutting materials of different thicknesses or compositions are readily substituted. As an added feature, the stop, not shown, fixed on pedestal 61 may be made adjustable so that it will be engaged by stop 83 at different positions of angular adjustment of the frame assembly clockwise as viewed on FIGURE 9. This form of the invention, as in the previous forms, is readily adaptable to automatic operation by the substitution of a power cylinder and piston assembly connected with shaft 63 to rotate the same, instead of, or in addition to lever 64. Thus, for example, a power cylinder such 'as 22, FIG. 1, may have its piston rod connected with lever 64 so that the latter will be pivoted clockwise to the operative position in response to the opening, manually or automatically, of a valve controlling the admission of pressure fluid to the cylinder.

It will thus be seen that our invention effects all of the objects previously herein enumerated. The device is relatively simple, rapid and certain in operation. Furthermore, it is especially well adapted for automatic or semiautomatic operation. Thus, for example, the valve controlling admission of air under pressure to cylinder 22 in the species of FIGURE 1, or to cylinder 54 in the species of FIGURE 6, may be solenoid-operated under control of a relay whose primary circuit is controlled or closed by any well-known length measuring device such as one driven by rollers in contact with the traveling web. Such measuring devices are well known and can be set to close a circuit at the instant a pre-selected length of web has accumulated. Or the valve may be controlled by photoelectric scanning means in response to an opaque spot formed therein at or near the line or severance. Since the operation is very rapid, predetermined lengths or weights of web material may be determined to a high degree of accuracy so that losses due to excess measurement or weight are eliminated.

In the claims the term wire is to be interpreted as inclusive of cords, cables or ribbons of metal, organic fiber or plastic. Referring to FIGURE 1 for example, it will be noted that web W first passes into contact with roll 14 along a line which lies in the surface thereof, parallel with its axis of rotation. In certain of the claims this line is called an initial line of contact. After passing about the roll in contact therewith, the web separates therefrom along a second line which likewise lies in the surface of the roll and is parallel with its axis of rotation. In the claims referred to, this second line is called a final line of separation.

While we have disclosed the form of mechanism presently preferred by us for carrying the invention into practice, numerous modifications, alterations and substitutions of equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art, after a study of the foregoing specification. Hence the disclosure should be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and it is our desire and intention to reserve all modifications and substitutions of equivalents within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. That method of severing a moving web of material passing over and about a roll between an initial line of contact and a final line of separation, comprising, rotating said roll at a speed, such that its peripheral speed is the same as the linear speed of the web, securing one end only of an elongated flexible tension element to the rotating roll at one side edge of the web while yieldingly tensioning the element from a point at the other side of the web, transversely thereacross, whereby the element wraps around the roll and binds the web thereto along a helical path and the web is progressively severed as successive points on said path cross the normal line of separation of the web from the roll.

2. That method of severing a moving web of material on a center shaft winder having an empty roll, comprising, driving the roll at such speed that its peripheral speed is the same as the linear speed of the Web, moving said roll into contact with the web so that the web engages the roll, substantially without slip, along a line of contact and separates from the roll along a line of separation angularly spaced about the roll from said line of contact, instantaneously securing one end of an elongated flexible tension element to one end of the rotating roll at one side edge of the web and in advance of said line of contact, and yieldingly tensioning the element at a point positioned transversely across the web at the other end of the roll and the other side edge of the web, whereby the element binds the web to the roll along a path extending helically thereabout and the web is severed progressively along said path as successive points thereof cross said line of separation.

3. In a web-severing mechanism for a center shaft Winding machine including a roll, means for driving the roll independently of the web at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the web and about which the web passes between an initial line of contact and a final line of separation, means operable to atfix one end of a Wire to one end of the roll at a point substantially in said initial line of contact and at one side edge of the web, and means operable simultaneously with said first means to pay out the wire under tension from a point transversely across the web at the other side edge of the web, the construction and arrangement being such that the wire is wound in a helical path about the roll to grip the web thereto and to sever the same along said path as successive points thereof pass said line of separation.

4. A web-severing and roll-initiating mechanism for a winding machine having a frame and a removable core rotating in said frame about an axis and about which the web passes between an initial line of contact and a final line of separation, first means fixed to one end of the roll for rotation therewith in a circular path and adapted to grip and hold a wire at a first point in its length when the wire is moved into said path, second means operable to releasably grip the wire contiguous to said first point and to move the same into said path, and third means fixed to said frame at the other end of the roll and adapted to grip the wire at a second point in its length and to yieldingly tension the same between said points.

5. In a web severing and roll initiating device for a winding machine comprising a frame, a roll removably journaled in the frame for rotation about an axis, and about which a web of material passes between an initial line of contact therewith and a final line of separation therefrom, said device comprising, hook means fixed to one end of the roll for rotation therewith in a plane and adapted to secure one end of a wire to be wrapped about the roll in a path extending helically about said axis by and in response to rotation of the roll, gripping means adapted to releasably grip a wire at a point adjacent the intersection of said initial line and said plane and operable positively to move the same from a first position clear of said hook means, to a second position into the rotational path of and for engagement by said hook means, and tensioning means at the other end of the roll to engage said wire at a second point thereof and yieldingly tension the same transversely across the web, between said points.

6. A web severing and roll initiating device as. in claim 5, said gripping means and said tensioning means being positioned substantially in the plane determined by said axis, and said initial line of contact.

7. A web severing and roll initiating device as in claim 5, said gripping means being power-operated and positioned substantially in the plane determined by said axis and said initial line, said tensioning means being positioned at the other side of the web and ahead of said gripping means in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the web approaching the roll.

8. In a web severing device for use in association with a winding machine having a roll journaled for rotation on a fixed axis and power driven independently of the web and over and about which the web passes between an initial line of contact and a final line of separation angularly spaced from said initial line of contact about said axis, combination, an elongated flexible tension element positioned transversely across the web adjacent said initial line, means fixed to one end of said roll to engage said element at a first point and carry the same about said roll in a path extending helically about said axis, means fixed to said machine adjacent the other end of said roll to grip said element at a second point spaced therealong and exert tension thereon between said points, said element acting to sever the web along said helical path as successive points thereof cross said line of separation.

9. In a web severing and roll initiating device fora center shaft winding machine comprising a frame adapted to removably mount a winding core and means to rotate the core, said core being positioned so that the web passes about and in contact with the same between a line of initial contact and a final line of separation, which lines determine with the axis of rotation of the core, first and second, respective, angularly-related planes, the improvement comprising, wire pick-up means fixed to one end of the core and rotating as a unit therewith, power-operated means carried by said frame adjacent said one end of the core and substantially in said first plane, said poweroperated means including a first pressure-fluid cylinder, a piston-and-rod assembly therefor and a first wire holder operated by the rod of said assembly, said rod being operable to move said first holder from a first position wherein a severing wire held in said first holder is free and clear of the path of rotation of said pick-up means, to a second position wherein said wire is engaged by said pick-up means, gripped to the core and released from said first holder, a second pressure-fluid cylinder carried by said frame at the other end of the core with its axis directed substantially toward said first cylinder, a second piston-and-rod assembly operated by said second cylinder, a second wire holder carried by the rod of said second assembly, means operable to introduce pressure fluid into said power cylinders to move one end of a wire releasably held in said first holder, from first to second position to be picked up by said pick-up means, said second power cylinder acting to yieldingly tension the wire across the web, whereby the wire is wound in a helical path about the core to bind the web thereto, said web being severed along said path as points thereof successively pass said second plane.

10. In a web severing and roll initiating mechanism as in claim 5, a fixed base, a second frame journ-aled on said base for rotation about a second axis parallel with and 6 adjacent said first-named axis, said second frame including a bar parallel with said axes, first and'second slides mounted for translation on and along said bar and adapted to be adjustably fixed thereto, an arm extending from said first slide, said gripping means being mounted on the I distal end of said arm, said second frame being pivotable 7 to rotation of said reel.

12. That method of severing a moving web of material and simultaneously initiating winding of the trailing edge thereof upon the roll of a center shaft winder wherein said roll issupported solely by its own shaft, driving said roll by a variable speed drive acting only through said shaft, varying the peripheral rotational speed of the rotatingroll to equalize the same with the linear speed of the web, moving the roll into peripheral contact with the web to cause the web to engage the roll along an initial line of contact and to leave the same along a final line of separation circumferentially spaced about the roll from said initial line of contact, connecting one end of a flexible tension element to the rotating roll at one side edge of the web at a point substantially in said initial line of contact, while-yieldingly tensioning the element at a point transversely across the web at the other side edge thereof,

so that the element winds about the roll and web in a path extending helically about the roll, severs the web at successive points in and along said path as the same crosses said line of separation, and binds the trailing severed edge to the roll.

13. A web severing mechanism for a center shaft winding machine, a winding roll supported by its own shaft, means for rotating said roll from a source of power through a variable-speed drive connected with said shaft, a flexible elongated wire, means operable to connect one end of said wire to one end of the rotating roll about a which a web of material to be severed is passing at synchronous speed between an initial line of contact and a final line of separation circumferentially spaced about the roll from said initial line of contact, means connected with said wire at a point adjacent the other end of the roll to yieldingly tension the wire transversely across the web, whereby said wire binds the web to the roll in a path extending helically thereabout and severs the web along said path as successive points thereof cross said final line of separation while the trailing cut edge is held to the roll to initiate winding of web material thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,343,047 Doyle et al. Feb. 29, 1944 2,461,246 Weyenberg Feb. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 621,779 Germany Nov. 13, 1935 634,174 Germany Aug. 19, 1936 

3. IN A WEB-SERVING MECHANISM FOR A CENTER SHAFT WINDING MACHINE INCLUDING A ROLL, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE ROLL INDEPENDENTLY OF THE WEB AT A PERIPHERAL SPEED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LINEAR SPEED OF THE WEB AND ABOUT WHICH THE WEB PASSES BETWEEN AN INITIAL LINE OF CONTACT AND A FINAL LINE OF SEPARATION, MEANS OPERABLE TO AFFIX ONE END OF A WIRE TO ONE END OF THE ROLL AT A POINT SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID INITIAL LINE OF CONTACT AND AT ONE SIDE EDGE OF THE WEB, AND MEANS OPERABLE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH SAID FIRST MEANS TO PAY OUT THE WIRE UNDER TENSION FROM A POINT TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE WEB AT THE OTHER SIDE EDGE OF THE WEB, THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT THE WIRE IS WOUND IN A HELICAL PATH ABOUT THE ROLL TO GRIP THE WEB THERETO AND TO SEVER THE SAME ALONG SAID PATH AS SUCCESSIVE POINTS THEREOF PASS SAID LINE OF SEPARATION. 